OBJECTIVE: The frequent handwashing and gloving required in high-risk, high-volume patient care areas such as critical care units damages skin of the hands. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare 2 hand care regimens (traditional antiseptic wash with chlorhexidine-containing detergent versus mild soap wash with subsequent alcohol-based rinse for degerming as necessary) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN: Prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment. SETTING: One NICU (47 beds) in a New York City children's hospital. SUBJECTS: Sixteen full-time NICU nurses. OUTCOME MEASURES: Microbial flora and skin condition of hands. INTERVENTION: Nurses were randomly assigned to one of the 2 hand care regimens. RESULTS: No significant differences in microbial counts or types of organisms from hands of staff were found, but after 2 weeks nurses in the mild soap and alcohol group had significant improvements in their skin condition (P =.005). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a mild soap for cleaning and an alcohol-based product for degerming may offer an acceptable alternative to the traditional antiseptic handwash and may reduce skin damage to health care professionals' hands.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: The frequent handwashing and gloving required in high-risk, high-volume patient care areas such as critical care units damages skin of the hands. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare 2 hand care regimens (traditional antiseptic wash with chlorhexidine-containing detergent versus mild soap wash with subsequent alcohol-based rinse for degerming as necessary) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN: Prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment. SETTING: One NICU (47 beds) in a New York City children's hospital. SUBJECTS: Sixteen full-time NICU nurses. OUTCOME MEASURES: Microbial flora and skin condition of hands. INTERVENTION: Nurses were randomly assigned to one of the 2 hand care regimens. RESULTS: No significant differences in microbial counts or types of organisms from hands of staff were found, but after 2 weeks nurses in the mild soap and alcohol group had significant improvements in their skin condition (P =.005). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a mild soap for cleaning and an alcohol-based product for degerming may offer an acceptable alternative to the traditional antiseptic handwash and may reduce skin damage to health care professionals' hands.
Authors: Heather A Cook; Jeannie P Cimiotti; Phyllis Della-Latta; Lisa Saiman; Elaine L Larson Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: H P Loveday; J A Wilson; R J Pratt; M Golsorkhi; A Tingle; A Bak; J Browne; J Prieto; M Wilcox Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 3.926
Authors: R J Pratt; C M Pellowe; J A Wilson; H P Loveday; P J Harper; S R L J Jones; C McDougall; M H Wilcox Journal: J Hosp Infect Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 3.926
Authors: Bankole Peter Kuti; Tinuade A Ogunlesi; Olabisi Oduwole; Chukwudi Oringanje; Ekong E Udoh; Martin M Meremikwu Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-01-20